If you ran into Stephen Tobolowsky on the street, you would not be mistaken: Yes, you’ve seen him before. A childhood dentist? A former geometry teacher? Your local florist? Tobolowsky is a character actor, one of the most prolific screen and stage presences of our time, having appeared in productions that range from Deadwood to Glee, from Mississippi Burning to Groundhog Day. But Stephen Tobolowsky, it turns out, is not just an actor; he is also a dazzlingly talented storyteller and writer.

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Publisher's Summary

If you ran into Stephen Tobolowsky on the street, you would not be mistaken: Yes, you’ve seen him before. A childhood dentist? A former geometry teacher? Your local florist? Tobolowsky is a character actor, one of the most prolific screen and stage presences of our time, having appeared in productions that range from Deadwood to Glee, from Mississippi Burning to Groundhog Day.

But Stephen Tobolowsky, it turns out, is not just an actor; he is also a dazzlingly talented storyteller and writer. He has earned a devoted base of fans for his original stories, told in front of live audiences as well as in a popular podcast. Now, for the first time, he has assembled those stories here. The result is creative mitzvah, a work of art, and a narrative feat that combines biography and essay, ranging in tone from the hilarious to the introspective.

To read these pages is to enter an astonishing world that, like all art, is universal yet individual, familiar yet disquieting. A dangerous world, indeed.

What the Critics Say

"Stephen Tobolowsky has found his true calling as a storyteller. He is candid, insightful, often profound, and very, very funny, especially when he recounts his adventures in show business. By blending sharp memories of his childhood with astute, adult observations of the world around him, he weaves a spell not unlike Jean Shepherd or Garrison Keillor… but he has a voice all his own, and I love it." (Leonard Maltin, film critic and author)

If you could sum up The Dangerous Animals Club in three words, what would they be?

Charming, human, inspirational.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Dangerous Animals Club?

It happens a lot with the way Tobo crafts a tale. There is an A and B story line and they always intertwine at the end with a great "youseetimmy" Which of course is the morale to a given story. The term is derived from the end of Lassie episodes. "you see, Timmy...."

What does Stephen Tobolowsky bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His own experience. These stories are his own. He knows where to slow down, where to punch a line, where to pause. I can't imagine them told in any other voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I honestly feel like I am a better human being for hearing this book, not to mention his podcast. I giggle, I get misty, even with repeated listens. I have bought this book and the audiobook for family and friends, I suggest you do the same.

Any additional comments?

I've had one cyber run in with the author. My daughter who was 11 at the time, was auditioning for a play and subsequently got the lead. She was freaking out about a fast approaching opening night and worried about learning all her lines. I had been a fan of the Tobolowsky Files podcast and I shot a tweet to him.

Not only did he respond to my tweet, but he sent my daughter a long email spelling out different techniques for learning a script and preparing a part. Anybody in the industry that is as busy as he who takes that kind of personal time out for a fan who is thousands of miles away is a stand up guy in my book.

This book is far more entertaining and meaningful than most books on tape. Tobolowsky is not only an intelligent and perceptive observer of the human condition, but is consistently funny as he relates stories about his childhood, romantic relationships, family, and movie and television career. As a comic, Tobolowsky reminds me of the Canadian comic, Stuart MacLean (of "Dave Cooks the Turkey" fame). Great stuff!

Where does The Dangerous Animals Club rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks. This one ranks in the top 5.

What other book might you compare The Dangerous Animals Club to and why?

Alan Alda's autobiography, a bit reminiscent of Bill Bryson in some ways. The humor, sheer storytelling talent and complex intellect of the author. His depth and ability to truly feel make him seem like a friend you wish you had.

Its variety! Each story was truly something unique and different; there was certainly no predicting what would come next.

What did you like best about this story?

Mr. Tobolowsky's honesty, candor, and humor.

Which scene was your favorite?

To choose a single "favorite" would be impossible because the book was highly entertaining.

The stories that stand out the most in my mind having now finished the book are the scene from the grocery store and the scene involving the stray dog. The aforementioned for hitting me with something I definitely did not see coming, and the latter for absolutely tearing at my heartstrings and making me cry in car.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Had that been a remote possibility, I wouldn't have ruled it out. Given that the book is almost 12 hours, that was not really going to happen.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Dangerous Animals Club to be better than the print version?

YES! I imagine it reads very well, but what makes the book so incredibly powerful is hearing it in Tobolowsky's own voice. There are many personal moments, some uplifting, some heartbreaking, and to hear Tobolowsky tell the tale with such passion and emotion made the book for me. Needless to say that is lost in the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

The way Tobolowsky can make you laugh and cry and then laugh again, all in the space of a few minutes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This is one of the few audiobooks that I listened to again within days after finishing it. Considering it is nearly 12 hours long, that is high praise indeed!

Stephen Tobolowsky’s “The Dangerous Animals Club” is a charming, insightful, and often funny memoir delivered in the form of non-chronological stories that somehow make perfect sense in their seemingly random sequence. As to be expected, some stories are better than others, but the really good ones are so captivating that I had to stop everything else I was doing and just listen in awe. The not-so-good ones were still okay. And while I was bored by his many bible references, they were short enough to be bearable.

What made the experience of listening to The Dangerous Animals Club the most enjoyable?

The Dangerous Animals Club is a fantastic book, both in audio format, as well as hardcover. If you're familiar with Stephen Tobolowsky or The Tobolowsky Files podcast, you'll immediately recognize these stories, albeit in greater detail / length. He also spins the stories together in more of a single timeline than with the podcast episodes, making the book feel more like one cohesive story, comprised of many smaller pieces.

If you're not familiar with his stories, you owe it to yourself to give this a listen. I've rarely (if ever) found such well-told stories that can make you laugh out loud and tear up at the same time. The manner in which the stories are told endear the author to the reader, making you connect to the stories personally. While immensely entertaining, the stories are filled with innumerable life lessons.

Having the stories read by the author makes this infinitely better. If read by anyone else, these amazing stories would have fallen flat.

All in all, The Dangerous Animals Club is story-telling at its best. I don't feel that there's much else to be said about this wonderful book, which will be reflected in the brief nature of the rest of this review.

What other book might you compare The Dangerous Animals Club to and why?

I'm not sure what to compare these stories to. Other famous story-tellers like Garrison Keillor and Baxter Black are fantastic in their own right, but considerably different in their delivery and content.

I've really never seen / read / heard anything similar to these stories.

What about Stephen Tobolowsky’s performance did you like?

Everything.

(see above)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely, if given the time to do so.

Any additional comments?

Be aware that, while most are completely family-friendly, a couple of the stories contain some language that may not be appropriate for younger listeners, specifically "A Wager With Freddy." Great story, but you may not want to listen with young ears around.

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